Well, I'm sure the whole idea behind ONE Vote '08 is very exciting for all of us.  I'm sure we all hope that this kind of thing can really take off.  But who among us isn't greatly skeptical?  I know I am.

In my opinion, we have to come to grips with these facts:

1.  This is a fledgling organization

2.  It's ALWAYS a huge, nay massive, challenge to get this many high profile people together and to agree on the same things, much less to agree on taking the same actions.

3.  Things like this will ALWAYS need to take the winding road through beauracracy and politics because, unfortunately, that's where they have the highest chance of getting things done.

4.  The biggest challenge in implementing this kind of thing is not in finding agreement on the broad issues (i.e. reducing world poverty, bringing education and health services to mothers and children, combatting HIV/AIDS etc.) but in finding common ground in terms of HOW to get these things done.

Number 4 is what worries me most.  See why, below the fold, and help me to find some hope in the comments.  

I just heard a report on CNN that ConocoPhillips is teaming up with the U.S. Climate Action Partnership to support government caps of and cuts to greenhouse gases.  Could this be the wave of the environmental future?  Jump below to read up on the subject, and perhaps to let us all know what you believe can or will be the repercussions of this.

You know, I've been shaking with anger and disgust over the many comments on another diary.  Many people in this community seem to hate me because of the situation into which I was born.  

They don't care if I'm a good person, a social activist, or even if I was someone who grew up being insulted with words like "gay" and "faggot."  Sometimes it was even "hey, there's that rich kid!"  Do WE want to be those people, as a community, who chided me for being rich in middle and high school?

Please follow me below the fold if you believe I'm a living, breathing being like anyone else here.

Full article at USA Today

Hey everyone.  Haven't seen this posted yet.  If there's another diary with this content, please let me know and I will remove it.  

Ever since the original press conference at which they announced that Elizabeth's breast cancer had spread to some of her bones, I have become a huge John Edwards fan.  Personally, I think that Edwards would be one of the most courageous leaders this country has ever had for President, and that Mrs. Edwards would probably be the most involved First Lady ever to reach the White House.

Follow me below the...You know what to do!

I'm writing this diary because I feel that some people in this community are not fully aware of what Patrick is going through right now.  I don't fault some of these people for being insensitive, callous, and condescending towards Patrick.  I completely understand these feelings; it is most often what those who have never experienced the pain and ravages of addiction feel when confronted with these kinds of issues.  However this reaction is usually due to a lack of knowledge about the problem.  I don't hold any ill will towards those that have reacted in such a manner; I'm sure that they did so unknowingly and out of care for CT/a lack of knowledge regarding Patrick's difficult situation.

I hope that you all will read what I have to say and go beyond the break with an open mind.  Allow me to offer some information and share some of my personal experience below the fold.

I'm writing this diary so those who go to protests may, in the future, know what to look out for, keep themselves as safe as possible, and know the truth about what happened at the FTAA protests in Miami on November 20-21.  I just posted this in response to someone I was exchanging messages with on a diary, and I thought it important enough to let the DailyKos community read it.  In that shorter and less detailed post, I accidentally identified the protest as against the CAFTA.  Sometimes you go to so many protests you forget which one was which.  Perhaps I wanted to forget this one.  

I remember the scene vividly: As I stood in the middle of the crowd of peaceful protesters, I suddenly saw people falling to the ground like anchors, clutching their faces or arms or legs or chests or stomachs.  Suddenly I realized that the police were shooting pepper balls and rubber bullets.  

More below the fold.

UPDATE: Some people seem to be reading only the title of this diary and not the substance. I have now changed the title from "Should gays only ask for civil unions?" to "should gays ask for civil unions first" so as not to imply that I think gay movement should not go for marriage equality as well, but only after they receive civil unions. And in the end, it's all just a suggestion, and I am not sure about how I feel. Welcome to my first diary!  I hope you all enjoy it and leave some feedback.  Please know if I have screwed anything up or broken any unspoken "rules."  And my apologies for not placing a more well-written diary on the page, but I have done this in haste.  

I've had an opinion about the struggle for gay marriage that I have held in for quite some time now, and I would like to see what everyone thinks of it.

More below the fold (I've always wanted to say that!)...